Hi all Newbie needs advice on water leak

Hi All, nice site and lots to learn.

Just got myself a 1988 90 county, and I could do with a bit of advice please.

I have a bit of an odd water leak problem (I was expecting a few as I had a series 3 a few years ago). This is the scenario.

Landy is parked on my drive with a slight uphill slope, when after rain I reverse down the drive and level up, then when I set off forward I get a small shower of water from one or both of the door tops. It appears to be coming from inside between the headling and the roof (apart from the water thats accumulated on the roof and runs down the windscreen). So its accumulating in the inside ledge above the window at the back and running forward.

There is a sunroof which looks sound and the alpine windows also look sound (albeit old). So it seems that water is getting in the roof somewhere (its got a county headling in so its difficult to see where from . Any ideas as to where to look first? Is it possible to leak through the gutter?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Sorry its so long, theres more to ask but thats later (windscreen seal, side windows small leak, engine (200tdi conv.) a bit weak in high revs etc)

Thanks Dave

It could be coming thru under the roof panel where it is fixed to the galv U channel (rivetted down) if vehicle has had a roof rack quite often causes this problem,HTSH

tacr2man said:

It could be coming thru under the roof panel where it is fixed to the galv U channel (rivetted down) if vehicle has had a roof rack quite often causes this problem,HTSH

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Mine seems to be 'crimped' rather than rivetted? looks like theres a bit of sealant at the two rear corners which looks a bit dodgy. Maybe I need to seal it all up? Whats best for that? preferably white.

Apologies as well, I should have used the search facility as theres a few other threads re this problem. Seems sunroof might have drain tubes? I think I'll tape it up and see if that 'cures' it temporarily. At least that might rule out the sunroof.

Dave

by the way, my TD is a bit weak in high revs as well. i guess its just the nature of the engines.

there is no more power at 3-4000 rpm as there is at 2-3k rpm. of course no rev counter so i am just guessing the revs from the noise/feel!

DJ - I've got precisely the same problem, and I'm buggered if I can find where it's coming from. I haven't got a sun-roof or alpine windows either, so I can rule them out.

may help if you have fitted roof bars the rubber seals harden up over the years and can let water in i removed mine and put a bit of ever faithful silicon around the holes then put my rubber seals back no water coming in now....

them sun roofs are bad fer lettin in water too so don't be to quick to rule that oot.

Thanks for the input guys, its been raining so I have been able get a better idea.

The inside of the seals on the alpine roof windows are dry so I think they can be ruled out (probably)

Before moving the car the internal 'gutters' (visible from outside down through the alpine windows) were dry, so I think not running in from the sunroof and back.

Moved the car back down the drive and when going forward (on the flat now) again a shower coming from both sides, from inside the headlining above the doors.

Now the 'internal gutters' are awash so I'm guessing its coming in the back of the roof somewhere, probably between the outer and inner skin? there is some dodgy looking filler on the corners by the drain holes outside.

So plan A is to seal the outer gutters in case its running in there, question is whats best? white outdoor frame sealant?, white silicone? Any one had to do this that could advise I'd be grateful.

If that doesn't work I guess plan B would be stripping out the window trim and roof panels and getting out a hosepipe so I can seal the whole lot from the inside, check the sunroof, windows etc. Also got to do some seals on the side sliding windows as as these seem to be leaking (assume I can get new seals?) Maybe I should do all this anyway but I was hoping for an easy fix first time round.

Thanks

Dave

I had that a while back. It was seeping in through the top of the front door seal. The water that was running down the A pillar from the roof was reaching the seal, then running into the seal and into the headlining.
I solved it by drilling a load of holes in the guttering at the front, middle and rear to let the water off the roof in multiple places, not near door or window seals.
Then I ran a small bead of bathroom sealant down the top of the A pillar to stop any water that runs off the roof from getting to the seal and help divert it down the pillar.

Does that make sense?

Patman1200 said:

I had that a while back. It was seeping in through the top of the front door seal. The water that was running down the A pillar from the roof was reaching the seal, then running into the seal and into the headlining.
I solved it by drilling a load of holes in the guttering at the front, middle and rear to let the water off the roof in multiple places, not near door or window seals.
Then I ran a small bead of bathroom sealant down the top of the A pillar to stop any water that runs off the roof from getting to the seal and help divert it down the pillar.

Does that make sense?

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Thanks Patman

Someone has done the bathroom sealant bit at the front but I'm sure thats it in this case, everything is dry there until I go forward on the flat. I think (as you suggest) a few more drain holes would be a good idea and sealing the guttering at the same time.

I'll keep you posted (bet you all can't wait!)

Dave

chris_mack said:

by the way, my TD is a bit weak in high revs as well. i guess its just the nature of the engines.

there is no more power at 3-4000 rpm as there is at 2-3k rpm. of course no rev counter so i am just guessing the revs from the noise/feel!

Click to expand...

I discovered the small tube between the turbo and the fuel pump had come off (or was never fixed properly when I got it) So its fixed tightly with a jubilee clip and theres loads more power now, as I was expecting.

So its worth checking that. Mine is a disco engine TDi conversion and its very tight to the bulkhead so that might have some bearing on it.

Water leak - not sorted but I have ruled out the sunroof and one alpine window for now. My suspicions lay with the rear washer, as the pump goes but not much water comes out, so I'm thinking it may be leaking inside somewhere. I'll be checking that later as its not raining.

Dave

Any more experiences of this type of water leak?

Thanks

Dave